Our Story

Bread for the Journey International® is based in Novato, California. We nurture the generosity of “ordinary” people in cities across the country by empowering them to become philanthropists capable of transforming local communities through collective giving.

Our experiment in community-based philanthropy began in 1988 when Bread for the Journey’s founder, Wayne Muller, and a small group gathered over dinner in Santa Fe, New Mexico. While these individuals were not of great wealth, they felt they had something to offer their community. They believed that working collectively they could be more generous and active in supporting positive change locally.

From that initial conversation in 1988, a simple, effective model of grassroots philanthropy quietly evolved. It has now been successfully replicated by giving circles who have formed chapters in more than 20 cities, donating nearly $4.5 million to their communities.